Friday TV Preview Round-Up: ‘Chuck,’ ‘Fringe,’ & ‘Supernatural’

Published 3 years ago
by
Ben Moore
, Updated March 3rd, 2014 at 7:38 am,

This year’s seasons of Chuck, Supernatural, and Fringe – cult favorites within the “geek” community – have been a bit underwhelming compared to previous seasons. Yet all three series are still more entertaining and well-crafted than nearly all of the newest genre shows to hit the air (Once Upon a Time and Grimm, we’re looking in your direction).

Today, we have three video previews for this Friday’s respective episodes: Chuck’s “Chuck Versus the Business Trip,” Supernatural’s “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters,” and Fringe’s “Wallflower.”

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Chuck: “Chuck Versus the Business Trip”

After last season’s excellent finale, Chuck hasn’t exactly been knocking it out of the park. While the show is, as previously mentioned, consistently entertaining, there are precious few episodes left of the entire series (ten, to be precise), and not a whole lot has been happening so far in Season Five.

Fortunately for Chuck fans, the promo for “Chuck Versus the Business Trip” indicates that might be about to change.

First, Morgan is getting the intersect removed from his brain. This is a good thing. Second, the season villain (or so we’re to assume?), Decker, is finally going to do something other than just “say sinister things.” Best of all, Chuck is going to assume Morgan’s identity in an attempt to stave off the waves of assassins who believe his best friend still has the intersect – a set-up that seems hilariously reminiscent of ThePink Panther Strikes Again.

Check out the promo for “Business Trip” below:

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Supernatural: “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters”

Supernatural premiered this season with a bang but has, for the most part, meandered ever since (with occasional flashes of brilliance, of course). While we know that the main storyline of Season Seven involves the “Leviathons” and their collective desire to destroy all life, we as the viewers don’t particularly care because there’s no sense of urgency on the matter.

For example, why has the show been wasting time with Dean’s moral misgivings – killing a “good” monster, feeling immense guilt about it – and Sam’s anger toward him as a result? We don’t care about the Leviathons because the show doesn’t seem to care, and neither do Sam and Dean.

On the bright side, Friday’s Jersey Devil-themed episode has been written and directed by the very talented Ben Edlund, known for his whacky and awesome Angel and Supernatural episodes. Even though “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters” looks like another monster-of-the-week episode (and not so much an overall season arc episode), Edlund’s direct involvement is good news indeed.

Check out the promo for “Influence Monsters” below:

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Fringe: “Wallflower”

While the last half of Season Three of Fringe was a bit too soapy for some fan’s tastes – and the first few episodes of this season were a bit too “meh” – Season Four has finally begun to hit its stride with the return of Peter (Joshua Jackson) to the main cast as a man forgotten by the world and all the people he cares about.

Last week, a lot of questions arose as to whether or not the universe featured in this season was the one we had become accustomed to in Seasons One through Three. This week, Peter begins his quest to find that universe – if indeed he isn’t already on it (beware red herrings!) – using “the machine” that featured heavily last season. FYI, this will be the last episode of Fringe until early 2012.

Check out the promo for “Wallflower” below:

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Hopefully, all three of these shows will start to hit their strides again. As a fan of all three, I can’t help but get the feeling that we might be looking at the final seasons of all of them.

Of course, it’s guaranteed for Chuck. Even though Fringe is getting better, one has to imagine it’s almost incomprehensible at this point for new viewers. And while Supernatural fans are about as hardcore as Smallville fans – meaning it could keep on keeping on for a few more seasons based on fervent loyalty alone – mightn’t stars like Jensen Ackles move along in their careers if the quality isn’t there?

What do you guys think, Screen Ranters? Are you enjoying these shows or are you a little bit underwhelmed so far? Let us know in the comments.

Just out of curiosity, what do you have against Once Upon a Time? It’s a well written and acted show. Sure, it gets close to going cheesy but hasn’t gone that route yet and thankfully they’re limiting the time spent on the kid, but otherwise I think it’s an excellent show. I really enjoyed the episode explaining how Snow and Charming met.

As for Chuck, I’m glad I had a few episodes stored up before watching the premiere this season, that was a really weak opener. It’s improved since introducing the Verbanski Corp and their interactions with them and I can’t wait for Morgan to lose the Intersect, glad they kept that short.

As for Supernatural in my opinion of course it should have ended with season 5. Season 6 was a misdirected mess, without really an overall goal or sense of where it was going. As stated the premiere was amazing but I don’t understand why it will be going on three episodes this week without leviathans. Hoping this is the last season because if Gamble continues to create stories with no real direction, she is just proving how weak she is in directing what used to be an amazing show. As for Chuck while the first few episodes were weak, this last one was very goo IMO, but the goal of this seasons villain needs to be explained more and also Chuck needs to get the intersect back. Seasons 3 and 4 were amazing I can only hope things get better from here on in.

I’ve watched all three since their pilot episodes. So far this year, Chuck is the one that hasn’t really met my expectations. Fringe always starts slow, but it gathers steam as the season progresses and then ends with a…I can’t wait until next season. Supernatural built up so much for that 5 year story-arc…each episode had more and more anticipation of how this all would turn out. Then, season 6 had to start all that over. I agree with the article about the Leviathans and the sense of urgency…it is absent. But, I hope that Sera Gamble is working a longer, well-crafted story-arc. I have the feeling she isn’t, and the series will soon fizzle out.

Being a Supernatural fan since S1 Ep1 I agree completely with Jacob above, it should have ended with S5. Season 6 was my least favorite of the entire show and I tried to convince myself it was growing pains when Eric Kripke left as the show runner. I’ve hung in there in hopes that Sera Gamble would pull it off (after all she’d been with the show since S1 and seemed the logical choice to step into Kripke’s shoes). Despite my hopes Sera and a huge crop of new writers (with the exception of Ben Edlund)have managed to turn the show into a sloppy mess of rehashed angst moments.

The Leviathans have potential and I understand they want to stretch it out through the season, but I’m having flashbacks to Eve the Mother of All (S6) and how she started with a bang and went out with a bloody whimper.

At this point I have one final comment directed at Sera Gamble “Prove me wrong when I say ‘You are the weakest link!’” I really do want her to prove I’m wrong, but I have my doubts.

Personally I kind of like Supernatural going for the creep of the week. When they did the whole end of the world bit they basically just got sdarker and darker and less fun to watch. I mean they need to have their more serious side, but I really miss their damn funny side….There have been shows that have killed over any sitcom during the same week…

Seriously agree with Chiguy, stop pandering to the fans of these dead shows walking (Chuck and Supernatural looking at you, Fringe is still ok). When they put out drivel like ‘season 7, time for a wedding’, I’ll take grimm and once over that crap any day.

Once Upon a Time and Grimm are laughably bad. Overly serious when they shouldn’t be and poorly constructed all over the place. Seriously, I can’t help but laugh at how stupid they are when I watch them, but hey — just my opinion.

Nice response, attack the other show rather than address my comments. In a comparison, it doesn’t matter if a show is laughably bad, only that’s it’s better than the other crap.

I was a huge fan of Supernatural seasons 1-4, but there’s no way you can say this season’s episodes beyond the overall leviathan storyline like the one that aired last friday or the James Marsters/Charisma Carpenter guesting witch crapfest are any good. Jump the shark eye gougingly bad, so yeah I’d rather watch plain stupid than that dreck.

Since you criticize bad but selectively turn a blind eye to even more suck, yeah you’re pandering.

On that side note,
*shakes angry fist at gamble for ruining a great show*

While I hated the title “season 7 time for a wedding,” the episode was a typical Supernatural story. They brought back a character from previous episodes, had a paranormal issue to solve, and a monster to stop. My issue was having another crossroads demon episode. I’d prefer new monsters like the Egyptian God from earlier in the season. Personally, I liked the War of the Roses witch episode, it was funny and every so often the brothers need a not so serious episode. The monster of the week episodes have been fine, but they don’t recognize the issue of the Leviathans. A witch casts a spell on one to save them and the next episode they don’t address that. Also, I think after the Leviathans went on a killing spree as Sam & Dean that the Winchesters wouldn’t be able to suit up as fake FBI agents for quite a while. I’ve invested too much time in these well crafted characters to give up on them because a few things are off in the plotline. The storylines aren’t what they were during the Kripke era, but the characters are still the same. Plus, NBC will probably cancel Grimm because that’s their prerogative.

Haha, what? I wrote about how Supernatural has been weak this season since it’s opening. How am I turning a blind eye to it’s quality, or lack thereof?

Like B-List Pornstar said, even when Supernatural isn’t doing so hot as a show (overall), the characters are always fantastic. They’re still fantastic. They’re still likable and the actors are still bringing their a-game. The “characters” in Grimm and Once are high-larious. Ly bad.

My point was that those shows are still not as good. You accused me of pandering to the fans of Supernatural, Chuck, and Fringe somehow, despite my reservations about the shows this season. Furthermore, how am I supposed to address your comments when they amount to the following: “When they put out drivel like ‘season 7, time for a wedding’, I’ll take grimm and once over that crap any day.”

What’s to address there? There isn’t a criticism inside of that statement. You’re just saying “such and such sucked.” If you want to craft actual criticisms — that I disagree with, mind — I’ll address them. It’s not really possible when what you’re writing isn’t substantial enough for a response. Sorry.

First- I am a loyal Supernatural fan since season 1 and will continue to watch and support every episode but …..Gamble, I don’t care how hot you are, please please change something. I hate that we don’t see enough of the Leviathans. And I hate that when we do see them they are just down right silly. These are supposed to be creatures so ancient they are older than the angels. If so , why are they so attuned with stupid sarcasm, humor and pop culture ? Grrrrrrr

Second. FOX is killing Fringe! First we get that stupid World Series Hiatus then after 3 episodes we are getting the normal hiatus? WTF???? The people that barely watched Fringe in the first place are not going to care about when it comes back on because of too many F***ing breaks!

Seriously, even when Fringe hasn’t “hit it’s stride”, it’s still 1,000 times better than pretty much anything on network TV and possibly cable (which I don’t have!) It’s always innovative, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining. From the gooey “monster of the week” to the interpersonal dramas, this show has it all. Characters you care about and the geeky sci-fi. Love it!! and PLEASE stop saying “ooh, I think this might be it’s final season”….really! No negative, only positive waves, please! (now I need a strawberry milkshake!)

The funny thing is during season 6 of supernatural people complained about not having monster of the week episodes, and now that there doing more people complain about lack of arc episodes. Why are fans so hard to please?

No comment on Chuck for i have never watched the show. Supernatural and Fringe are my two main shows still apart from American Horror Story, and Grimm. Fringe was kinda a meh with the first episode almost like the first ep of the series but it has me intersted still. Supernatural cannot complain alot like the eps so far and loved the on with spike and cordiall in it just some simple fun, i do get no story arc episodes are a bummer but at least they do mention them in the episode as to carry the storyline a little bit here and there…like how Crowley has asked the demons to not come after them, spike doing a dean a good one, little tid bits that count.

Love Grimm and but still on the edge of Once Upon a Time..has a few quirks with the show but love the story. Walking Dead is better to me this season for at least i can watch it without being bored to death with it this seaon..had to watch the first season ondemand for it was too slow.

I am a die hard Supernatural fan. ill agree that this season hasny been the best, i mean monster of the week episodes are great now and again but throw some more leviathons in. This season needs more urgency, more impala ( although i like the challenger), and Cas. i miss Cas badly. Also if jeffery dean morgan ever gets closure i would greatly appreciate if. just ONE EPISODE please!!! he can make room for one episode!

I like the humour Supernatural had, and I haven’t seen much of that this season. What happened to the GhostFacer guys? I miss the Trickster/Gabriel’s pranks, episodes like the one they were thrown into the real world. It’s all Sam’s angst, Dean’s angst, Bobby being grim, and no old time faces (I think most were killed last season?). Still, I’m a loyal fan.